T’s (Green Valley Motor Lodge), Drexel Hill Furniture, Toys R Us, Bob’s Big Boy, and numerous other landmarks go, while Swiss Farms, Zinni’s, the $2.49 dry cleaners, Michael’s, Red Lobster, Chic-fil-A, Acme, Home Depot, Famous Dave’s, Best Buy, Party City, Babies R Us, Central Park, Burlington Coat Factory, the Springfield Diner, Target, CVS and many more new businesses arrived on the scene. In recent decades, we’ve seen not only the Bazaar of all Nations’ demise, but we’ve watched Donut Land, the Knights of Columbus DeLaSalle Post, Bruster’s, I.Goldberg’s Army and Navy, Mr. Cheese), and going to other places like Charlie’s Hamburgers, the R-Way Diner, Penn Fruit, Gino’s, Ferraro Cadillac, Strawbridge & Clothier (Was there ever a store since that came remotely close to this one in service and quality?) and Food Fair. I remember getting my first Barbie Doll at Kiddie City, taking my children to Celebration Station (forerunner of Chuck E. I remember going to Block Distributors which was a big deal when it opened, the first of the “catalogue” jewelry stores in this area. I remember going with my Dad, and later my husband, who bought many cars at Farmer Dick Barone. The Golden Mile holds many other memories for me as well.
I attended weddings and other big events, as well as my very first class reunion from Archbishop Prendergast there. What kid didn’t love to go to that local, fun mini-amusement park where Kohl’s now stands? I also have my share of memories at The Alpine Inn, later September’s Place. The tea cups and roller coaster were my favorites at Playtown Park. Sure, I too have my share of memories there. Rather he told me most people had lots to say about their recreational times at Alpine Inn and Playtown Park (There’s even a Facebook page entitled “I tossed my cookies at Playtown Park.”) When I asked Patrick Manley, part of the creative Bazaar/Golden Mile documentary team along with Brendan O’Riordan and Melissa Whiteley, where most of the Golden Mile memories are coming from during this research phase of their film project, I had expected him to say from where people worked on the Golden Mile. Additionally, I worked at Bambergers (in what is now Macy’s) at Springfield Mall in its inaugural year, the first year after the Mall opened (I am feeling old writing this) and I also earned my pocket money at Perkins Pancake House, located right smack in the heart of the Golden Mile. I used to work weekends as a coat checker during banquets at the Fireside Hearth. I worked many jobs in places along “the Pike,” in my high school years. In the very least, those parts of Baltimore Pike that bookend the Golden Mile have impacted it, even if not considered an official part of it. and Baltimore Pike to the Springfield Mall. to Route 420 in Springfield, although unofficially, and in most locals’ minds, it stretches from Oak Ave. Technically, the Golden Mile stretches from Bishop Ave. But its history, its slate of our memories, is what the filmmakers hope to capture. The Golden Mile, unlike the Bazaar of All Nations, is actually still there, going strong. The Bungalow was a happening place in the 70s and I remember going there and having a lot of fun! And honestly, I also haven’t been to the Springfield Inn for awhile either, but I remember some enjoyable times there as well. Truthfully, I haven’t been to the Bungalow Inn since way back when, while in my 20s, when it was one of the few after-hours clubs around town. I realize time marches on- it’s called progress- but I can’t help but feel strangely sentimental with an unexplainable sense of loss whenever I hear another landmark place bites the dust. With every passing year, more and more things we know in the County disappear, changing the landscape as we know it.
Last week when I heard the Bungalow Inn in Clifton was closing, followed by news that the Springfield Inn (formerly Richetti’s) may evolve into an urgent care medical facility, I knew the Golden Mile project was more important than ever before, because it can capture Delco’s changing face, its history. No matter what part of Delaware County in which you’ve lived, chances are you have a few emotional attachments to Springfield Township’s Golden Mile. Almost anyone who grew up in Delco will agree that both The Bazaar and The Golden Mile played some kind of roles in their lives and most memories of those places are fond ones of a simpler, more gentle time. When I first learned that the same creative team who made the “Bazaar of All Nations” film has begun their ground work for a similar documentary about the “Golden Mile,” I was excited.
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